Name: Ethics as an Enabler: What Student Data Reveals About AI Adoption
Start: 2026-06-16T10:00:00-0700
End: 2026-06-16T10:50:00-0700

Ethics as an Enabler: What Student Data Reveals About AI Adoption

Tuesday June 16, 2026 10:00am - 10:50am PDT

MSC Birch - 1st Floor

As generative AI tools become increasingly embedded in higher education and the workplace, faculty and institutions continue to grapple with questions of ethics, equity, and appropriate use. Much of the current discourse frames ethics as a constraint on AI adoption—emphasizing policy enforcement, academic integrity, and risk mitigation. This presentation offers a research-informed reframing.
Drawing on pre-experimental research conducted across multiple two-year college contexts, this session examines how explicit ethics instruction functions not as a barrier, but as an enabler of responsible AI adoption. Quantitative and qualitative student data from an AI-infused writing curriculum reveal that when ethical expectations are clearly articulated and instruction is intentionally scaffolded, students report increased confidence, more favorable attitudes toward AI use, and stronger intentions to engage with AI tools responsibly. Importantly, students describe ethics instruction as reducing uncertainty and cognitive load, particularly for learners with uneven prior access to technology.
While the study is situated in a writing course, the findings extend beyond composition. The presentation will explore implications for curriculum design, faculty development, and workforce readiness across disciplines, emphasizing ethical judgment, transparency, and accountability as transferable competencies. Participants will leave with research-based insights and practical strategies for integrating ethical AI instruction in diverse instructional contexts.

Speakers

Dr. Desiah Melby

Communicaton Instructor, Mid-State Technical College

I am a Communication Instructor and faculty leader in two-year higher education with over 20 years of experience in teaching, instructional design, and faculty development. I recently completed a Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Career and Technical Education Leadership, where my research... Read More →

Tuesday June 16, 2026 10:00am - 10:50am PDT
MSC Birch - 1st Floor University of Wisconsin-Stout, 302 10th Ave E, Menomonie, WI 54751

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ACTE's Region III Conference 2026

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ACTE's Region III Conference 2026

Dr. Desiah Melby

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